Police killer Gcinikhaya Mbukula has been sentenced to life imprisonment and 57 years’ direct imprisonment after pleading guilty to a string of violent offences, including the murder of a police officer.
The 38-year-old appeared in the Western Cape High Court and entered into a plea and sentence agreement with the State after overwhelming evidence gathered by investigators and prosecutors left him with no viable defence.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping, murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.
The court ordered that the additional sentences run concurrently with the life sentence and declared Mbukula unfit to possess a firearm.
Mbukula was part of a syndicate that planned a robbery at GR Spices in Killarney Gardens, Table View, in October 2021. On 26 November 2021, the group entered the business posing as job seekers before robbing employees of about R81 000 in cash, a firearm and a laptop.
As police and private security responded, the robbers used the owner and manager as human shields before a shootout erupted.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mbukula admitted firing at police officers while attempting to escape during his confession.
“He acknowledged that the officer had sustained a gunshot wound during the exchange of fire. Mbukula then continued fleeing and encountered another police officer. He fired at the officer, who collapsed,” added the NPA
The NPA added that Mbukula expressed remorse, conveyed condolences to the victims’ families and said he intended participating in rehabilitation programmes while in prison.
The Acting Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Adrian Mopp welcomed the sentence and praised the investigation team.
“This level of professionalism and collaboration between the DPCI and the National Prosecuting Authority is invaluable in the fight against serious and organised crime.”
The NPA said it remains committed to working with law enforcement agencies to ensure that perpetrators of serious and violent crimes are brought to justice and held fully accountable for their actions.
